Rehabilitation

Here we are in Camp Fed, Ft Dix and the question that is hovering in the air like the pink elephant in the room is how are we inmates being rehabilitated and what is the point of our incarceration? I just finished playing in a Bocce tournament arranged by on of my fellow inmates, the sun, the clouds the Indian Summer weather is simply gorgeous and we're outside having a grand old time. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful that we are afforded the opportunity to spend our time this way on a wonderful Saturday, but is this teaching me a lesson, as my judge stated she wanted to do when she sentenced me. Other inmates are walking the track, playing paddle ball, basketball, volleyball, some are involved in other games and I would say not one of them is learning a lesson. I dont understand what we are learning other than we have lost our liberty, in many cases our professional and personal lives have been ruined and pretty much destroyed and to what end. Those of us who have committed victimless crimes, white collar crimes, wouldn't it be better for the govt to let us stay on the outside, pay fines, do community service and be tax paying productive citizens rather than be in prison and an expense to the govt.

I know I learned my lesson the moment I was arrested and indicted, as I'm sure most of the white collar inmates in here have as well. Is this simply about doling out punishment or is it about making a bad situation better, are we not the country of second chances and forgiveness?